by David McAlpine

After all was said and done, Brad Womack picked Emily Maynard, 24, from Charlotte, North Carolina to be his forever. After he got down on one knee, though, things turned tough for the new couple as tabloids slammed both of them, and they butted heads. Emily and Brad opted not to speak to the press today, but instead released a statement through ABC.

"At long last, Emily and I can be open to the world and each other about our relationship," Womack said. "Though we are madly in love, it has been a bumpy couple of months for us and our priority right now is to focus on our relationship.  We hope that you can respect our privacy as we return to normalcy and begin our off-screen lives together.”

However, Bachelor host Chris Harrison did hold a conference call with the media today. He talked about the new couple, if he thinks they'll last, the new Bachelorette, and what his take is on the tabloids who covered them.

Q. Was there a reason that the final rose was not presented last night?
A. Chris Harrison: That was a total producer lapse in judgment. We shot it and it happened, and we'll probably have to put it on ABC.com. I talked to the executives and asked them why we left it out and he didn't think it'd be that big of a deal. But it did take place and we will show it - our fans have taught us a good lesson.

Q. After you taped the engagement, were you surprised to hear that Emily and Brad had broken up?
A. Chris Harrison: It was only several weeks after, really when the show started airing that it became a big problem, and I think part of that was Emily's security both on the show and watching Brad and Chantal. What Brad and her shared was real and it was tough for her to watch that. Part of the problem was going through a normal relationship but having to deal with the bulls**t printed in the tabloids. When you have magazines throwing money left and right at ex-boyfriends and girlfriends to get garbage… it went way beyond the lines of decency. Yes, they opened up their lives to it, they knew what they were getting into, but that line of decency was crossed.

Q. What do you think of Ashley Hebert as the new Bachelorette?
A. Chris Harrison: I think she's going to do great! She's a spitfire and she has a lot of charm. She's a professional woman, we really haven't ever had that before, so I'm really excited at the prospect of her coming in. She has a great likability that the men will enjoy, but she has her vulnerabilities and regrets, too.

Q. Were you surprised at all at who the final two were?
A. Chris Harrison: I wasn't surprised at who the final two were. I wasn't surprised that Emily ended up with the final rose, either. The moment she got out of the limo, Brad took a liking to Emily. He always talked a little different about her and their relationship.

Q. Will they be able to work through their problems?
A. Chris Harrison: I think so. It's absolutely easy for people in the media to say they're going to break up. They're easy to take shots at. Statistically your neighbors are going to get divorced tomorrow, you know? I think they're going to make it work, I think they'll fight like hell. You've got two stubborn people and they were butting heads, but now they're dealing with it together. It's them against the world.

Q. How did you feel when everyone was ganging up on Michelle on the "Women Tell All" special?
A. Chris Harrison: A lot of people talked about whether or not I should have defended her. I guess I call them like I see them and I can only react to how I feel. I've been doing this long enough where the producers give me free reign. This girl was destroyed and distraught; she was literally shaking and hyperventilating. She really couldn't catch her breath and talk, so I did get protective of her. I just thought this girl didn't deserve to get beat up on. She apologized several times and I thought it was enough.

Q. Will there be a third time on the show for Brad if this doesn't work out?
A. Chris Harrison: No, there will not be a third time. I told Brad that this is the last time, so don't screw it up. I hope they get married and whenever it is, I'll be there front and center. I'm guessing Ali and Robert will be walking down the aisle first, then Emily and Brad. I want them to live their lives, I love the fact they're still together and taking those baby steps. I think they'll get married, I just don't know when.

(Image courtesy of ABC)

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